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Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1919, Page 2

One u-ay to secure recruits endowed with the full and true spirit of national patriotism, is to capture the youth of this and every country with a full and freo love of his country and all that it stands for. In America they do this on admirable lines, and there is no more heterogeneous peoplo than that of the United States under one constitution.; They teach patriotism in their schools, —they have'a course of loyalty. Methodically the children learn how to vote, how to conduct meet ings, conventions and elections, how to discriminate between qualifications of candidates, and how to govern as well as serve. They are taught to despite bribery and all forms of corruption and fraud as treason. Their creed which they are made to know by heart, is not complex. It is simple but comprehen-' sive, no less beautiful in diction, than lofty in aspiration. These are the pledges that are graven on the minds of tho young of the United States.

“As it is cowardly for a soldier to run away from tho battle, so it is cowardly for any citizen not to contribute his share to tho well-being of tho country. America is my own dear land; she nourishes me, and I will lovo her and do my duty to her, whose child, servant and civil sol. dier 1. am. As the health and happiness of my body depend upon each muscle and nerve and drop of blood doing its work in its placo, so the health and happiness of my country depend upon each citizen doing his work in his place.” The principles animating the livos of tho young govern their future, and those principles being sound the future will bo bright. Common sense should direct our actions, and under a sensible guidanco tho country will outgrow tho

menaco of the present. The cultivation of-,national patriotism is of the highest - importance, and it should be in the forefront of our whole national effort to uplift the country and contribute to the well-being of the peoplo .as a whole.

So much is heard as a rule about what the Government are not doing for the soldiers, that it is of service to get a glipmse of the other side of the account, and note what actions are to the credit of the Government. At the Empire Day gathering at the theatre this week one of the speakers dealt with tho subject of repatriation—which is very much in mind these days. To evidence the ■position local conditions were quoted, and these disclosed that in The short period of six or seven weeks, twenty-two applications were lodged locally, involving loans to. tho amount of £3,454. Of these eight had been granted to the amount of £1392, six had been recommended for grant to the amount of £741, five were under examination to the amount of £ll4l, and three totalling £IBO, had been withdrawn. It was explained that under the scheme, in addition to loans, sustenance grants were made, and these are of an elastic character, being available to discharged men out of employment, under certain conditions, as well as to certain of their dependents. The grants are made also to assist men in learning trades where the pay is not up to a: living wage. The loans are made without interest for tho first £SO, and thereafter tho rate of interest is £5 per cent. These loans are made for furnishing homes, for establishing businesses, or assisting to carry on a business. Through the Lands Department, apart from the Repatriation Department, liberal advances are made to help men get on the land. Where discharged soldiers seek to buy freehold, the Lands Department assist with substantial advances for purchase, as well as loans to procure stock. These aids to repatriation are now being availed of freely by the men, which is a guarantee that tlio assistance is great ly appreciated.